Assistant manager Nicky Southall is urging Dover’s players to maintain a positive approach to their matches as they continue their quest for their first win this season.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men are still without a victory in all competitions and are 20 points from safety in the National League after a 4-1 loss at Southend last Tuesday.

After a free weekend, in which they played a behind-closed-doors match at Crabble, Whites visit Torquay this Saturday.

Southall doesn’t want to see the bottom side’s troops feeling sorry for themselves.

“We are in a really tough league, it’s relentless at times,” he said.

“But we need to keep that positive mindset.

"If we can get that first win on the board, hopefully, you will see a whole different side to the squad.

“We cannot feel sorry for ourselves.

"I said to the players last Tuesday (after the Southend defeat), when you are hurt, you need to get up and fight back.”

Among those to play in the behind-closed-doors game was 21-year-old midfielder Marshall Wratten, who has recovered from a broken metatarsal.

Striker Ricky Miller, who had been out with Covid, featured too but now has a calf problem which was due to be assessed at training this week.

Miller has not featured for Whites since scoring in the FA Cup draw with Yate on October 16.

“It’s unfortunate because he is a big player for us,” added Southall.

Defenders Seth Twumasi and Danny Collinge, who picked up a knock at Roots Hall, also were not involved in the practice game, although that was more of a precautionary measure.

But one man who will not be at Dover’s disposal in the immediate future is ex-Tonbridge man Khale Da Costa. The winger joined National League South Braintree on a one-month loan on Friday, and featured as they defeated his old club 1-0 the following day.

Southall said: “To be fair to Khale, he is one of those players that is hungry and really wants to do well for Dover.

“But with the shape we have been playing, with wing-backs, he has not been able to get a starting place.

“Hopefully a run of games will do him good.”

Torquay, managed by Gary Johnson, are 16th after they earned a 1-1 draw at Hollywood-backed Wrexham last time out. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup early and were without a match last weekend.

They finished the 2020/21 campaign in second before they lost 5-4 on penalties to Hartlepool in the play-off final.

When asked if he was expecting a tough match despite the Gulls’ relative struggles this season, Southall replied: “They are all difficult games in this league.

“They are a league club. They did well last year and made the play-offs.

“It’s going to be a tough game. But we have got to be positive, and try to cut out the silly mistakes.”

Academy players Noah Carney and George Wilkinson also featured in the club’s practice game before they were involved in English Schools’ under-18 trials on Sunday.

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